MATERIALS

Body Development

K.C. Industries is constantly working in conjunction with mineral suppliers, technical laboratories and others to ensure that each of our K-Ceram materials is of an exceptionally high standard. Each material is constantly improved to ensure that it meets the needs of our customers both today and in the future. This constant development allows us to offer bodies with the following properties:

Abrasion resistance,
Mechanical strength,
Resistance to heat-shock,
High refractoriness,
Good electrical resistance at high and low temperatures,
Low electrical loss at high frequency,
Good thermal conductivity

The following gives information on some of our most popular K-Ceram materials.

Steatite

• Steatite is mainly used to manufacture Electrical Insulators
• Steatite is magnesium silicate
• Steatite has good Mechanical Strength
• High volume resistivity up to 1000 degree C
• Good dielectric strength
• Low dissipation factor
• Impervious material structure
  

Low Loss Steatite

• Low Loss Steatite outperforms Steatite in many areas
• As it name implies it has a lower dielectric loss factor than standard Steatite
• Low Loss Steatite has improved strength
• Higher density

 

Steatite Crushable

• Crushable Steatite is used for element tube inserts

 

Cordierite

• Cordierites have excellent resistance to heat shock, due to their low coefficients of thermal expansion. Cordierites come in a range of thermal expansions, mechanical strengths and porosity's
• Cordierite ceramics make cost-effective insulators wether dry-pressed or extruded
• At K.C. Industries we make both a Dense Cordierite and a Cordierite with high porosity Cordierite that we call, Cordierite Refractory

 

Dense Cordierite

• As the name implies Dense Cordierite has a high density although achieving this density increases the thermal-expansion of the body and therefore has a negative effect on its resistance to thermal shock
• The density of the body improves the strength of this cordierite in comparison to high porosity or Cordierite Refractory bodies
• Dense Cordierite also allows it use as an electrical insulator when thermal shock resistance is required, especially in humid conditions

 

Cordierite Refractory

• Cordierite Refractory or open porosity Cordierite has a low coefficients of thermal expansion and therefore performs better in thermal shock applications
• The open porosity however makes this body highly unsuitable for electrical insulation purposes, especially in humid conditions

 

Self Glaze Cordierite

• As the name implies Self Glaze Cordierite glazes during the firing process. There is no need to have a separate glaze application and a glaze firing. Therefore, for many electrical insulators that require a glazed finish, the Self Glazing Cordierite is a more economical choice
• Electrical Insulators
• Self Glaze Cordierite also has increased strength compared to the other forms of Cordierite
• The glazed finish requires a high amount of flux in the body therefore; Self Glaze Cordierite has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion and therefore has a poor resistance to thermal shock

 

Magnesium Oxide

• Our 85% Magnesium Oxide has an excellent electrical resistance. When formed into a crushable ceramic it becomes the perfect answer for tubular element insulation

 

Mullite Refractory

• Mullite is a very important phase in high temperature, high hot strength, and thermally shock resistant products. It is for these reasons that is often the basis of refractory bodies
• Mullite It is very volume stable at very high temperatures
• Mullite has a low coefficient of thermal expansion
• Mullite is a good thermal insulator, even at very high temperatures
• Mullite has very good hot load-bearing properties
• Mullite is resistant to many corrosive environments
• Mullite is often used to manufacture precision refractories

 

G102 Mullite Refractory

• G102 Mullite Refractory is our highest strength Mullite Refractory designed especially for use as furnace element supports

 

Electrical Porcelain

• Porcelains are multiphase ceramics produced from natural raw materials. The microstructural development of these ceramics depends on their composition, on the characteristics of the raw materials, and on the ceramic processing
• Our Electrical Porcelain in many ways is similar to a low grade Steatite in it electrical properties, although it is a good electrical insulator, it is a poor cousin when compared to Steatite. However it does have some advantages
• Porcelain is more readily formed into larger shapes
• Porcelain is very easy to glaze and is used extensively as insulators for overhead power transmission lines
• Porcelain is easily formed by Wet Pressing, where as Steatite is not